“I do,” she says. “I find it hilarious, actually.”
I take a drink of my beer, watching her until her laughter finally fades. “And what do you find hilarious?”
“Because this was never about some sham marriage with you, Brady,” she says. “The way you talked about her, from the very first time I heard her name come out of your mouth, I knew that there was something different about her. Something special. And maybe you didn't realize it at the time, but you were falling for her long before you ever said those words to her.”
“I don't know about that –”
“I do,” she says. “I've known you your entire life. I've seen you go through women like men go through clean underwear. And never once, did I ever hear you talk about any of them the way you talked about her. And that first night I met her? I could see that she was as in love with you as you were with her. The problem was, you two were just too scared to acknowledge it.”
I sigh and take another drink. I think back over the months and try to recall the exact point I knew I was in love with Amanda and couldn't do it. I don't know when it was. Everything just felt so natural with her from day one. Maybe Miss Delia was right.
But then, I guess it doesn't matter now – now that Tiffany had blown everything up.
The doorbell rings and Miss Delia looks at me, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I'm waiting for a package, so I'll get that, but call her, Brady,” she says. “The odds are, she's sitting there waiting for you to reach out. Don't let your pride prevent you from marrying that girl – she's the best thing that's ever happened to you and Nicholas.”
The doorbell rings again and she gives me a smile. She turns and walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I hear murmured voices inside, but don't pay attention to them. Instead, I take a long pull from my beer and stare out at the backyard, trying to organize my thoughts and feelings. Trying to work up the nerve to call Amanda.
“Doing a little day-drinking today, huh?”
My heart falls into my boots at the sound of Amanda's voice. I turn to her, my mind and body awash in a mix of emotions. She gives me a small smile and then takes the seat across from me at the table. I want to reach out and take her hand, want to feel the reassuring warmth of her skin on mine. But, I don't do any of that. Instead, I wrap both of my hands around my bottle to keep them occupied.
I notice that she's not wearing the engagement ring and my heart sinks even further than before. That can't be a good sign.
“How are you?” I ask hesitantly.
She shrugs. “I'm doing – okay,” she says. “Good, actually.”
I nod. “I'm glad to hear that, darl – Amanda.”
“We're still going to have to work on that,” she says, giving me the first genuine smile I've seen from her in what feels like a million years.
“We?” I ask. “There's still a we?”
Amanda's smile falters slightly, but she recovers it quickly and nods. “There is,” she says. “There's still a we if you'll have me.”
I reach across the table and take her hand, pulling it to my lips and kissing her knuckles softly. “Of course, I will,” I say. “I've been going crazy without you.”
“And I've been going crazy without you, Brady.”
I hold on to her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “What changed?”
She grabs my beer bottle and drains the last of it. “Well, after brooding for a week, I got sick and tired of feeling sorry for myself, so I decided to do something about it.”
“And that was?”
“I tracked down one Angie Willows,” she said. “I had a very long, interesting conversation with her over coffee one day.”
The knot in my stomach tightens a bit at the mention of Angie's name. “And?”
“And, it turns out that Tiffany was blackmailing her,” she says. “Angie refused to tell me what Tiffany had on her, but she forced her to run into you that day and told her that she had to kiss you because she was taking pictures. Seems like she was relying on fear to keep Angie in line. She's got a husband and a new kid to think about.”
“Fear of what?”
She shakes her head. “I don't know.”
“Then why did she talk to you and admit everything?”
Amanda shrugs. “She honestly felt bad about doing that to you,” she says. “And she told me that she talked things out with her husband – discussed whatever leverage Tiffany has on her – and they're working to resolve that on her end so nobody can ever use it against her again.”
I nod and feel better than I have in a week.
“So – are we okay?” I ask tentatively.
She smiles. “Yeah,” she says. “We're good. I'm sorry I ever doubted you, Brady. Please forgive me.”
I stand up and pull her into a tight embrace. It feels wonderful to have Amanda in my arms again – it feels right and perfect.
And for the first time in my life, I feel complete.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I clink my champagne glass against hers and smile. “Cheers, Mrs. Keating.”
Amanda smiles and holds her glass against mine. “And cheers to you, my dear husband.”
We're standing on the patio of our private villa in Bali. I look out at the ocean, admiring the crystal-clear blue and green of it. The waves crash against the shoreline with a sound like thunder and the birds overhead wail plaintively. It's – amazing.
When we first started to plan our wedding, we had planned on an extravagant affair. We wanted to make it big – or at least, I did. Amanda had scaled it back some, but it was still going to be a spectacle. After everything that happened though, we decided a small affair, attended only by our closest friends would be a much better idea.
So, our ceremony was held in a stunningly beautiful park filled with flowers and gorgeous greenery. Only our nearest and dearest were invited to come – and Nicholas charmed all in attendance in his role as our ring bearer.
Shortly after taking our vows, we boarded the company's private jet and took off for our honeymoon in Bali. It's one place I've never been and I have to say, it exceeds my every expectation.
We spent the first couple of days exploring this tropical paradise, hiking for hours on end, soaking it in, and savoring every moment of the culture – and each other. Our honeymoon – like Bali itself – has definitely exceeded my every expectation as well.
The sun is slipping toward the horizon, setting the sky on fire in brilliant shades of red and orange. As pretty as I think it is in Texas, a sunset in Bali is out of this world amazing. We sip our champagne, enjoying the sound of the ocean.
“What do you want to do tonight, darlin'?”
She gives me a flirty smile. “How about tonight, we order some room service?”
I pull her to me and smile back. “I think that sounds like a fantastic idea.”
I lean down and kiss her gently, running my hands through her hair. I feel her body responding as our tongues swirl around one another in her mouth. Being so near to her, kissing her so intensely – it still makes my pulse race. She grinds her body against me, running her hands down my back.
Reaching behind her, I untie her bikini top and let it fall to the deck. I take her breasts in my hands, gently kneading them. As our kiss grows more passionate, I give her stiff nipples a pinch, making her shudder beneath my touch.
I feel her hand rubbing my cock through my shorts. She reaches into my swim trunks and grips my thick shaft and I feel it growing even harder in her hand. Amanda moves her hand up and down, stroking my cock, drawing a gasp from me. With her other hand, she unties my trunks and lets them fall to the deck, pooling around my feet. I step out of them as I reach down and slide her bikini bottom down her legs.
She kicks them to the side and then we're both standing naked on the deck, our bodies pressed together in an intimate embrace.
“I need you inside of me, Brady.”